Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-01
Only for Fun.

Ham I quite so spry rs | was twenty
odd years AGO. but hold on a bit and
I'll help YOU down" And so saving
Alderman ri Duunlng reached up Il
large fat hand and eased Miss Patsy's
descent from the one-horse shay that
old Doane was tugging at, evidently
not wishing To tarry, for she seemed in
stinctively to conclude that if Miss Pat
ty stopped there was no telling when
she would assume her journey
You see, though Miss Patsy was a
good old soul as ever Lived, she was
very much gwen to harmless gossip
ing, and she generally tarried long
over the whine when she began TO talk
over her own troubles and trials.
Miss Patty was, as she herself ex-
pressed it, nigh on to sixty, and, in
fact, she had admitted the same thing
tor number of years, so that most
folks put it at seventy or Whereabouts.
Just now Miss Patty was in peck of
trouble -she had come down from
the Roseheaf farm in search OF female
help.
Mrs. Cunning, the hotel-keeper'
wife, came out to greet the new conner,
being always glad TO see the tidy body,
especially as Miss Patty Slocum's but
Ter was the best for miles around.
and she always made it point TO
Bring some along with her.
just now Uncle ii, rs most people
called him. was gruntling over the
three-gallon OF buttercup yellow
creamery.
Mrs. Dunning relieved the butter
maker of her basket of eggs. and she
herself gathered up a bunch of garden
ass. and brought up in the rear rs the
trio trudged through the garden and
around to the ample hotel kitchen,
Mss Patty remarking, rs they were
passing the side piazza:
I've got to have some help some
low or other. I've inquired all the
way along, but girls seem to be
mighty scarce alters the way these
days, when YOU want EN- TO do BIT of
work they are nowhere around. If it
Sarn't for the rheumat now but
hight here Miss Patt, 5 voice was lost,
as she turned the corner of the great
house. Though lost TO view, she was
ndeliby stamped on the memory of the
group of girls who sat on the front
piazza, some in low wicker rockers,
one in hammock, swinging lazily,
another half hidden by the luxuriant
woodbine that clambercd up the second
story.
II say, girls, come here. every one
of you, and the face that had been
peeping from the woodbine came into
full view. and the dainty, muslin-clad
fbody sailed down the steps, and four
others, not at all alike. after her
around the west side of the house. and
within hearing of all that was said in
the kitchen.
Mum is the word. now. girls; don t
you give an aud bic smile for your life.
think the party in the immense sun
bonnet-shaker, | suppose you'd call it
is case; an original, too; and
want to hear what she is going to do
about her help. She makes me think
of old Aunt Hannah, up at the springs.
This old body is just such a go-ahead-
sharp as a cricket; and, except for her
rheumatic, would be equal to half a
dozen such girls as you and l. -
When the girls had reached the de-
sired spot right under high window
that opened out of the buttery, that
was Mrs. Dunning's pride, and marvel
Of convenience. by the by, they all sat
down on long wooden bench that was
nnder great overhangng lilac bushes
lust now laden with immense clusters
Of the lovely perfumed blossoms.
Rose Stoneleigh, the leader of the
group, put one dImpled finger up to
aer lips, and the others, IN follow
FOUR leader style, each raised a iing-
sr, and they were as quiet as mice.
Presently, through the window, came
The voice of Mrs. Cunning:
Indeed you must stop minute,
Mss Slocum You'll be all done out
line you get back home again.
No thankee all the same. I'll try
me more place, and then I'll get back
home again.
'It's too bad you can't find anybody.
What is the particular rush. just now
Surely haying has not commenced with
fou Pr
mo; not exactly, but I've a sight on
hand just now; got to do some pie plant
md then them ere gooseberries are
about ripe enough to can, and in a
couple of weeks the cherries will be on
sand, and-pester the hired help any
way. I'd sooner grub along, anyhow,
han bother with any of them, if it
wa'n't for tn plaguey rheumatic 1t
kinder ketches me wonst in a while,